Good news/Bad news!!??

[Guest guest]

Hi everybody,

Sorry I haven't posted in the last few weeks. I had the uptake scan

on June 9th, fortunately, the scintigram showed no problems with

nodules. The scan confirmed the diagnosis of Grave's (with diffuse

goitre). Thats's the good news, I think.

Labs taken at the same time indicate a much more normal FT4, but I

need help with interpretation please.

Labs on May 8 were: FT4: 29.5 pmol/L (Ref: 10.4 - 23.2)

TSH: <0.02 mIU/L (Ref: 0.35 - 5.50)

FT3: 16.73 pmol/L (Ref: 2.60 - 5.70)

Labs on June 9 were: FT4: 11.3 pmol/L (Ref: 10.4 - 23.2)

TSH: <0/02 mIU/l (Ref: 0.35 - 5.50)

FT3: 5.15 pmol/L (Ref: 2.60 - 5.70)

Again, I would have thought good news, seeing as I have only been

taking Carbimazole since May 23 (20mg per day in two doses).

My doctor (very supportive) reviewed these results on June 23 and on

the Nuclear Medicine Physician's recommendation, reduced the

Carbimazole to 5 mg daily Monday to Friday in a single dose.

I have reduced the dose as told, BUT on Wednesday, had two major

Grave's rage incidents, (the first for over three weeks), my sweats

have gotten much worse and more frequent, I have niggling headaches,

and the TED has gotten worse in the past ten days, despite the

flaxseed oil that I am consuming at 2 tablespoons daily (under

protest, I hate the feel and taste and don't consume juices or

yoghurt; it also tastes foul with milk, which I drink gallons of), +

2 capsules of flaxseed oil night and morning. I can't source

flaxseeds here, health food shops say they can not get them!! I also

have Liquid Tears to relieve my eyes.

To put you properly in the picture, I quit smoking one year, 26 days

and 8.5 hours ago, I quit coffee (which I used to drink 10-15 cups

per day) in April, I quit alcohol (light - moderate drinker) in

March, started drinking herbal teas, including St 's Wort and

others ad lib, and my love life has plummeted to zip!

So here I am, watching my health and diet, not doing ANYTHING to

stress me or be bad for me, being so good that Dorothy & Toto better

look out (LOL), and I feel absolutely dreadful. I am eating way too

much, but the hunger pangs won't stop, I am losing weight (5'11 " and

204 lbs, disgraceful eh?) and so sad that I feel like upping my dose

of Prozac, which until a week or so ago, was helping me cope quite

well.

Help, please!! I still feel I know so little about what is happening

and it's very scary, even with all the wonderful posts I read each

day that are so supportive to everyone.

I feel that the dose is too low, but I don't know what it should be.

My doctor is arranging a referral to a proper endo, after I told her

I would not be returning to the Nuclear idiot, so I know have to wait

to get an appointment. In the meantime, is there anything I can do to

help myself??

Many thanks for your help to date, this would be the most useful site

I have ever come across on the web. It is remarkable to see people

like Elaine and Pam and everyone using their experiences to help

everybody. I hope one day, that I am knowlegeable and stable enough

to be able to offer advice in return.

Blessing to you all

Prue Bowen